WHEREAS, The Senate adopted permanent rules for the 2013-2015 biennium under Senate Resolution 8601; and
     WHEREAS, The notice requirements set forth in Senate Rule 35 have been satisfied;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That Senate Rule 7 is amended as follows:

     "Rule 7. 1. Indecorous conduct, boisterous or unbecoming language will not be permitted in the senate at any time. Food and drink are prohibited within the senate chamber during floor session, except that members may drink water at their floor desks. The use of cellular or digital telephones is prohibited within the senate chamber during floor session and within a hearing room during a committee hearing.

     2. In cases of breach of decorum or propriety, any senator, officer or other person shall be liable to such censure or punishment as the senate may deem proper, and if any senator be called to order for offensive or indecorous language or conduct, the person calling the senator to order shall report the language excepted to which shall be taken down or noted at the secretary's desk. No member shall be held to answer for any language used upon the floor of the senate if business has intervened before exception to the language was thus taken and noted.

     3. If any senator in speaking, or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the senate, the president shall, or any senator may, call that senator to order, and a senator so called to order shall resume the senator's seat and not proceed without leave of the senate, which leave, if granted, shall be upon motion "that the senator be allowed to proceed in order," when, if carried, the senator shall speak to the question under consideration.

     4. No senator shall be absent from the senate without leave, except in case of accident or sickness, and if any senator or officer shall be absent the senator's per diem shall not be allowed or paid, and no senator or officer shall obtain leave of absence or be excused from attendance without the consent of a majority of the members present.

     5. In the event of a motion or resolution to censure or punish, or any procedural motion thereto involving a senator, that senator shall not vote thereon. The senator shall be allowed to answer to such motion or resolution. An election or vote by the senate on a motion to censure or punish a senator shall require the vote of a majority of all senators elected or appointed to the senate. A vote to expel a member shall require a two-thirds concurrence of all members elected or appointed to the senate. All votes shall be taken by yeas and nays and the votes shall be entered upon the journal. (See also Art. 2, Sec. 9, State Constitution.)"